I was out looking around today and i came across a lucky bean tree. It's about crayon sized thick and 8 inches tall. It really caught my eye as it looks very much like wisteria. Has anyone ever grown one as a house plant or tried using bonsai techniques on one of these before? It looks to be similar to a scheffelera and i plan on treating it as such unless anyone warns otherwise. Anyone feel free to chime in on this, thanks!!

The Lucky bean tree, Erythrina lysistemon, has nothing whatever to do with Schefflera. It is a member of the pea family. Your specimen has three compound leaves. Although it is said to be amenable to bonsai-like conditions, I hardly think you will get much of a bonsai out of it. It may make a nice house plant. Under the right conditions, it produces beautiful red flowers.

Thanks Iris, I only meant that it was similar in that it had compound leaves, and its growth patterns. However i imagined that it would never be a true bonsai, but i look forward to experimenting with it.

It likely will have to be several years older than this one, I'm afraid.

Good luck with it.

_________________Jim Lewis - lewisjk@windstream.net - Western NC - People, when Columbus discovered this country, it was plumb full of nuts and berries. And I'm right here to tell you the berries are just about all gone. Uncle Dave Macon, old-time country musician

No, they are entirely different species. That is why scientific names are so important. I was once on a newsgroup where some European members kept talking about tracking elk. Now elk, Cervus canadensis or elaphus (not sure which is correct), is strictly a New World species, & we had quite a time with this. Finally it turned out they were talking about what we call moose, Alcis alcis, which is circumboreal.Iris

Last edited by bonsaisr on Thu Nov 07, 2013 3:08 pm; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : correct spelling)

Castanospermum australe is the species that i have. Thanks Jim i'm only 21 so i have many years to wait for it to do its thing . Also i picked one specifically with no bean at the base, as i found it rather unattractive. I was also wondering if its alright to remove the bean should it develop one?

Hi, the "bean" you saw at the bottom of the tree's, was a "one time" deal. That big "bean" sprouted, and the tree grew from it.The nurseries sell it like that, for the novelty that the bean lasts so long after it has sprouted. The bean will not regrow from the base, so no worries. I don't think in our part of the world, that it will ever flower or seed, butnature will do as it wants, so you can always cross your fingers. You will most likely be bouncing grand children on your knee, beforeit gets to an age it will flower and set the giant seed pods, which look like massive pea pods.Happy growing!